NewerTech Lowers Prices on miniStack Line

[admin]

NewerTech Lowers Prices on miniStack Line
Thursday, September 7, 2006

NewerTech today announced new prices for its line of miniStack USB and miniStack V2 FireWire external hard drive storage solutions. "Add Your Own Hard Drive" kits are available from $54.95. Both the NewerTech miniStack USB2 and the miniStack V2 solutions add flexibility and connectivity options while increasing hard drive space and decreasing desk/cord clutter in an unobtrusive 6.5 x 6.5 x 1.5 footprint. All NewerTech storage solutions utilize an Oxford Chipset on a custom bridge for optimum performance, and are backed by a 2-year warranty.

Price reductions on NewerTech miniStack V2 FireWire + USB2 Solutions are:
- 80GB 7200RPM w/2MB Buffer (was $124.99), now $119.99
- 160GB 7200RPM w/8MB Buffer now $139.99
- 250GB 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer (was $167.99), now $159.99
- 320GB 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer (was $195.00), now $189.99
- 400GB 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer (was $279.99), now $269.99
- 500GB 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer now $295.00
- 750GB 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer (was $539.99), now $499.99
- 0GB Add Your Own Hard Drive Kit, now $74.95

Price reductions on NewerTech miniStack USB2 Solutions are:
- 80GB 7200RPM w/2MB Buffer (was $109.99), now $99.99
- 160GB 7200RPM w/8MB Buffer (was $127.99), now $119.99
- 250GB 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer (was $159.99), now $149.99
- 320GB 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer (was $179.00), now $175.00
- 400GB 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer (was $269.99), now $249.99
- 500GB 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer now $279.99
- 0GB Add Your Own Hard Drive Kit, now $54.95



http://www.123macmini.com/news/story/525.html

[Fox]

One could already get the FW miniStack v2 case for $73 from the OWC Specials page before the so-called price reduction.
_________________
Mini 1: 2.3 ghz Core i5; 8 gb RAM, Corsair 240gb SSD, 500 gb Seagate XT
Mini 2: 2.26 ghz Core 2 duo, 8 gb RAM, 500 gb Seagate
Also a Cube, 13" MacBook Air, 20" 2.66 ghz iMac & 11.6" Acer 1810TZ running Ubuntu, Mint & openSuse

[nohmen]

I just recently picked up a Ministack, and the headline kinda made me panic. Thankfully, the pricedrop isn't so much, so I don't feel ripped off.

[systimax]

Can someone tell me the dif between a my own Sata Drive in usb or firewire enclosure as an external drive compared to having a direct connection to the motherboard via SATA like normal PC or iMacs?

Do you lose speed or bandwidth? Is there any trade off?

thanks

[Yvan256]

[jthawke]

I spent the past couple of days scouring the internet for a "companion" drive for my Mini, and I'm really disappointed to the point of not buying anything now. The ministack seems like a good option, but that weird light in the front and the fact that it's painted plastic that doesn't quite match makes it a no go. The micronet looks good, but it's got lousy drives in it and apparently doesn't sleep well when the mini sleeps. The Lacie is an interesting choice, but again, lousy drives and apparently the fan can be very loud. This really seemed like a great opportunity for SOME company to take hold of, but no one has managed to really "do it right". As always, MHO.

[Bandit Bill]

[jthawke]

Bandit -

I am basing it on what I've read. Nearly every post on any site indicates that the drives should be "ultra quiet" but those with a fan appear to be anything but. It's nice to hear that yours is not like that as I've always felt LaCie products have the highest "intention" of quality. How does yours perform? And is the case a good match? I've also read that the back feels "cheap" . . . can you comment?

[Bandit Bill]

[anodyne]

FWIW I own both ... just recently picked up the Lacie 500GB drive. My miniStack V2's 400GB hard drive failed after ~2.5 months of use (generally on 24/7 but does not function as boot drive), so I picked up the Lacie while the miniStack V2 was in for warranty work.

The Lacie seems better built/has better case .... I like the idea that it's raised a bit off the mini for ventilation and looks/feels higher quality. However, the Lacie's fan is louder than the miniStack V2's, and I need to unmount the drive/turn if off when I sleep (small bungalow). We shall see how reliable it is over time, as I have had Lacie enclosures/FW ports fail on me in the past (not drives though).

I just got the miniStack V2 back and it will function mainly as backup drive, with a couple partitions setup for testing Leopard client/server. I don't know that I can trust it for full-time operation with my Intel Mini. I do appreciate it's quite operation/low fan noise, but not if I must pay a price in reliability. A two year warranty is nice (and hassle-free return), but the process/downtime still blows.

[Bandit Bill]

[anodyne]

[Bandit Bill]

Now you really have me wondering. How quiet is the LaCie mini in the lowest of the three fan settings, not being used as a server drive in an temp setting of about 20C (average room temp).

I assume you mean the fan is either in low/medium/high speed mode at all times. There is no fan off at any time. It isn't user controllable via software or a dip switch is it?

The Mac mini itself gets pretty loud (relatively) when the fan is blowing full blast.

123macmini reviewed the Lacie mini as one of the quietest units they had every tested.

[Fox]

[jthawke]

Thank you for the additional information. I will have to see if the local Apple Store has one and would allow me to test it. I am considering using it as a boot drive as well as Apple still doesn't offer a 7200 rpm drive as an internal option. Does anyone know which of the LaCie models (if any) don't even have a fan? This could make a difference. As well, it IS important that when I sleep my mini, the external drive sleep as well.